Large diameter rotating blade and contact assembly



y 5, 1964 1.. M. LARSEN 3,132,218

LARGE DIAMETER ROTATING BLADE AND CONTACT ASSEMBLY Filed Nov. 7, 1962 s Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR LUDOLPH LARSE N 3 9; BY 4 6 g ATTORNEY May 5, 1 964 M. LA'RSEN 3,132,213

LARGE DIAMETER ROTATING BLADE AND CONTACT ASSEMBLY Filed Nov. '7, '1962 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 1545x511 19543 L. LA-RSEN 3 3118 ILA'RGE nmmzmma; Rommmm: BLADE AND comma? ASSEMBLY y 1964 L. M. LARSEN 3,132,218

LARGE DIAMETER ROTATING BLADE AND CONTACT ASSEMBLY Filed Nov. 7, 1962 e Sheets-Sheet 4 4 w 6. HM 6 SE a 2 Q n g p w BA Ld Fl 1 Mg 7%? Z 2 "J11 a 6 7, M0 W1 5 Q y%%z7dwfirz m wzfilwyw a Y ..I. h V I m JWMA 1.3g Tm V. r 5: a W I w n 2 g T w 4 Y TL w .40 M w x mm 2 TE @A M. LARSEN 3, 32,218

LARGE DIAMETER ROTATING BLADE AND CONTACT ASSEMBLY 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 May 5, 1964 Filed Nov. 7, 1962 L. M. LARSEN May 5, 1964 LARGE DIAMETER ROTATING BLADE AND CONTACT ASSEMBLY 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Nov. '7,

United States Patent 3,132,218 LARGE DIAMETER ROTATING BLADE AND CUNTACT ASSELY Ludolph M. Larsen, Minneapolis, Minn, assignor, by mesne assignments, to the United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy Filed Nov. 7, 1962, Ser. No. 236,173

11 (Ilairns. (Cl. 200-15) Thisinvention relates to a multi-conductor slip ring of relatively large diameter and more particularly to a slip ring for use in connection with a guided missile launching system magazine, which features novel means of construction to obtain accurate spacing of contacts, compensation for axial displacement between fixed and rotating members, and a novel arrangement of contact assemblies and brush assemblies to facilitate installation of the slip ring between the fixed and rotating structures which it serves.

More specifically, the invention consists essentially of a pair of identical contact blade assemblies one of each of the assemblies being mounted in an aperture provided in a fixed inner structure and disposed in predetermined spaced relationship and eight identical brush assemblies, each assembly being mounted in an aperture provided in an inner wall of a rotatable member such, for example, as a conventional ready service ring or missile cell struc ture and disposed in predetermined spaced relationship about the aforesaidinner wall.

During the launching operations of guided missiles, warmup cycles are necessary prior to the hoisting of the missiles from the missile cells onto the launching arms of the missile launcher. Accordingly the device of the present invention makes possible the exchange of warmup power and indication signals between the launching sys-' tem control and the missiles on the rotatable magazine or ready service ring. Primarily, warmupcontrol consists of putting a selected number of missiles on warmup positions and maintaining this number on warmup. Two things affect missile warmup once it has been initiated,

a missile on warmup may be loaded onto the launcher or the missile on the warmup may reach the maximum warmup time limit. In either case, a new (cool) missile must be put on warmup to maintain the selected number on warmup. Warmup is removed at the hoist position when the missile is hoisted onto the launcher, or when it has reached the maximum time limit on warmup. Thus it is an object of the present invention to automatically establish warmup circuits to a selected number of missiles prior to a hoisting and launching operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a slip ring which features novel means of construction to obtain accurate spacing of contacts and compensation for axial displacement between fixed and rotating member.

, Still another objectof the invention is to provide a multi-conduetor slip ring having a novel arrangement of contact assemblies and brush assemblies to facilitate installation of the slip ring between the fixed and rotating structures which it serves. 7

Still another object of the invention is to provide an electrical contact ring which makes possible the establishing of warmup power to missiles supported in a rotatable magazine.

' A still further object of the invention is to provide a multi-conductor device wherein alignment and proper electrical contact between the brush fingers and contact blades are assured.

Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a guided missile launching structure illustrating the device of the present invention mounted thereon;

FIG. 1A is an enlarged sectional view of a portion of the structure of FIG. 1;

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view taken substantially on the line 22 of FIG. 1 illustrating the position of components of the slip ring with respect to rotatable ready service ring and the fixed inner supporting structure;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged plan View partially in elevation and partially in section of one of the contactblade assemblies and one of the brush assemblies of the present invention;

FIG. 3A is an enlarged, exploded, perspective view of portions of the blade and brush assemblies of FIG. 3, and looking substantially to the right in FIG. 3;

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view taken substantially on the line 44 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a front view of the brush assembly partially in elevation and partially in section; and

FIG. 6 is a view in perspective illustrating the general arrangement of the contact and brush assemblies of, the present invention.

Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to FIG. 1, FIG. 1A and FIG. 2 thereof, the numeral 10 generally indicates a conventional missile magazine structure comprising an inner fixed tubular structure 11 and an outer ready service ring or missile container 12, which rotatesabout the inner structure 11 upon two radial roller bearings 13 whereby its axial position is maintained with respect to the inner structure 11, the container 12 being driven in any conventional manner such, for example, as by a motor M and gear arrangement G. The vertical position of the ring 12 is positioned by rollers 14 which engage and roll on the outer magazine structure, as at 15, the ring 12 being provided with inner and outer cells 16 and 17 in which the missiles are supported, as best shown in dashed outline in FIG. 1.

In practice the device of the present invention operates in a closed annular chamber 19 formed between the outer wall 21 of the inner structure 11 and the inner wall 22 of the rotatable, ready service ring 12 and between two mutually spaced radially disposed bearings 13, FIG. 1. This device consists essentially of two identical contact blade assemblies 24 and 25 mounted on the wall 21 of the inner structure 11 and eight identical brush assemblies 26, 27,

28, 29, 31, 32, 33, and 34 mounted on the inner wall 22 of the structure 12. K

As more clearly shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 each contact assembly is disposed in an opening 35 formed in the wall 21 of the inner structure 11 and comprises a plate or sup port 36 secured to the wall 21, as by screws or the like 37. The plate 36 carries a solid block 38, composed of any insulating material suitable for the purpose such, for example, as hard rubber or the like, the block being provided with an arcuate outer surface 39 into which a plurality of slots 41 and 42 are formed.

Each of the slots 41 has disposed therein a contact blade 43 and each of the slots 42 has disposed therein an insulating strip or separator 44, the blades and strip being secured in their respective slots with a suitable adhesive compound. A guide rail 45 is carried by the block 38 and mounted above and parallel to the contact blades, the block being secured to the plate 36 as by screws or the like 46. The plate 36 of each contact assembly has secured thereto, as by screws 47, a housing 48 which housing encloses a plurality of electrical terminals 49, the

terminals in one contact assembly being electrically connected to corresponding terminalsin. the'other contact assembly and with their respective contact blades 43, thereby to establish an electrical connection therebetween. The electrical connection between the contact blade assemblies is established by a pair of cables 51., as. best shown on FIGS. 2 and 6. e

in each brush assembly. The corresponding contact blades are connected in series, as are corresponding Each brush assembly of the present invention comprises a casing 52 disposed Within an opening 53 formed in the wall 22 of outer structure. or service ring 12 and is secured thereto by screws or the like 54. A brush. support indicated generally by the reference character 55 and comprising a pair of end strips or members 56 and a center strip 57 is mounted in casing 52, the strips being shown on FIGS'B and 3A. The strips 56 and 57. are

secured together by a plurality of bolts s4 and to facilitate slight vertical movement of the strips 56-57 and the brushes 61, a plurality of pins 65 extend through the strips with the terminal ends thereof disposed in slots 66 formedin brackets 67 as'shown in FIGS. 4 and 5.. The brackets are secured to the casing 52, as by screws 63 and border on the aforesaid opening or slot 58 therein, as best shown on FIG. 3. tapered ends 71 extends across'the strips 56 and 57 and is fastened thereto, as by screws or the like 72, the block 69 being engageable with a groove 73 formed in the guide rail 45 carried by the plate 33 of the contact assemblies, FIGS. 4 and thereby to align the brushes with the contact blades as the brush assembly rotates past the contact assembly.

Each casing 52 of the brush assemblies, for example. 26, is provided with five rotary relays one of which is shown in FIG. 3 and designated by the reference charactor 74. These relays are'adapted to function during a warmup cycle. ,One relay is in the warmup circuit of each missile.- To establish an electrcial connection between the brushes and the relays in each casing terminal boards 75 are supported within the casing 52, as by brackets 76,- secured to the casing, as at 77. Electrical cables 78establish connections between. the aforesaid brush assemblies.

' It is to benoted in FIG. 3 that the casings 52 of the brush assemblies are each provided with a pair of access openings 79 and 81, each opening being closed by acover or plate 82 secured to'the casing, as by screws or the like 83, the aforesaid arrangement being adapted .to provide easy access to the interior of the casing so that eleccontact blades, as more clearly shown in FIG. 4. .It is .to

A cross block 69 with i trical connection maybe made between the elements of e the brush assemblies.

As more clearly shown in FIG. 3, both the contact assemblies and the brush assemblies are disposed in' a direction facing outwardly from the center ofthe inner structure. Since the contact assemblies are larger than the brush assemblies, both can be installed and removed for servicing from the inside of the inner structure. It

will be further noted in FIG. Z that the eight'brush as-' semblies are equally spaced about the wall 22. In accordance with this spacing, at single contact blade assem-. bly subtending slightly more than a 45 degree are would be functionally .sufficient. In the design, however, two contact segments of approximately 26 degrees of are are used to reduce the size of the material stock required and also the two nearly square apertures in the inner structure require less reinforcing than would a single aperture twice as wide. 7 a

In accordance with the present invention there are 50 contact blades in each contact assembly and 50 brushes brushes. As can be seen in FIG. 2, if the ready service ring is rotated clockwise, brushes 61 in assembly 27 have engaged contact blade 43 in assembly 25, before brushes 6.1 in assembly 26 have disengaged from contact blade 43 in assembly 24 and brushes 61 in assembly 34 will engage 7 3 in guide rail 45 of the contact assemblies and invariably aligns the brushes and blades, so that the brushes are forced open and slide along the top and bottom of the be further understood that each level of contacts in. each brush assembly is connected to the same level of contacts in the adjacent assembly, so that any brush assembly in contact with the blades of a contact assembly feeds power to all other brush assemblies. In effect, the warmup electrical contact ring functions as an electrical slip-ring. Obviously many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in the lightrof the above teachings. It is, therefore, to be understood that within the. scope of the appended claims the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

What is claimed is: V 1. In a multi-conductor device of the class described, in combination,

a fixed innertubular member, a rotatable outer memher; I

a pair of contact assemblies mounted on said fixed inner tubular member and having a plurality of contact blades carried thereby;

a plurality of brush assemblies mounted on said ro-' tatable member and having a plurality of brush fingers carried thereby, the brush fingers on at least two of said assemblies cooperating with said contact blades on said pair of contact assemblies as the outer member rotates about said inner member;

j guide means on thecontact' assemblies;

complementary guide means on the brush assemblies engageable with the guide means on the contact assemblies for invariably aligning the brush fingers with contact blades as the brush assemblies rotate past the cont-act assemblies; and

' means carried bysaid brush assemblies for allowing vertical movement of the brush fingers as the fingers engage the contact blades on the pair of contact assemblies. 2. In a multi-conduetor device in combination; t

a' fixed inner tubular member,

a rotatable outer member, I

a pair of mutually spaced blade supports secured to said tubular member, a i

a 'plurality'of contact blades carried by each blade 7 supportof said pair of blade supports,

a plurality of brush supports secured to said outer member,

a plurality of brush fingers carried by one of each of.

said plurality of brush supports and cooperating with a said contact blades as the brush supports rotate past.

gageable with the guide means on said blade supports, for invariably aligning the brush fingers with the contact blades upon movement of the brush 1 supports past the pair of blade supports; and means including pin means carried by each brush support of said plurality of brush supports for allowing of the class described,

by each brush vertical movement thereof and the brush fingers thereon as the fingers engage the contact blades on the pairof supports.

3. In a multiconductor device of the class described, in combination;

afixed inner tubular member;

a rotatable outer member;

a pair of mutually spaced plates secured to said tubular member;

an'insulating member carried by each plate of said pair of plates;

a plurality of contact blades carried by the insulating member on each plate;

a plurality of mutually spaced casings carried by and secured to said rotatable outer member;

a movable support carried by each casing of said plurality of casings;

a plurality of brush fingers carried by the support in each casing and cooperating withthe contact blades on said insulating member on each plate as the outer member rotates about said inner member;

guide means carried by each plate of said pair of plates;

complementary guide means carried by the movable support of each casingand cooperating with the guide means carried by each plate for invariably aligning the brush fingers with the contact blades upon movement of the casings past each plate of said pair of plates; and means on said movable support of each casing and movably mounted thereon for allowing vertical movement thereof and the brush fingers thereon as the fingers engage the contact blades on the insulating member on each plate of said pair of plates.

4. The combination of structure according to claim 3 wherein said guide means includes a guide block carried by each plate; and

a guide rail carried by the movable support of each casing engageable by said guide block of each plate.

5. The combination of structure according to claim 3 wherein said means on the movable support of each casing includes a plurality of pins carried by each movable support and having the terminal ends thereof disposed in cooperating slots formed in the casings.

6. In a multi-conductor device of the class described,

in combination,

a fixed inner tubular member,

a rotatable outer member,

a pair of mutually spaced plates carried by and secured to said tubular member,

an insulating member carried by each plate of said pair of plates,

a plurality of equally spaced contact blades carried by the insulating member on each plate and having an insulating strip disposed therebetween,

a plurality of mutually spaced casings carried by and secured to said outer rotatable member,

a movable support carried by each casing of said plurality of casings,

a plurality of brush fingers carried by the support of each casing and cooperating with the contact blades on the insulating member on each plate as the outer member rotates about the inner member,

a guide rail carried by each plate of said pair of plates and having a groove therein,

a guide block carried by the movable support of each casing engageable with the groove in each guide rail for invariably aligning the brush fingers with the contact blades upon movement of the casings past each plate of said pair of plates, and

means on the movable support of each casing engageable with complementary means thereon for allowing vertical movement of the supports and the brush fingers thereon as the fingers engage the contact blades on the insulating member on each plate of said pair of plates.

7. In a multi-conductor device of the class described, in combination,

a fixed inner tubular member,

a rotatable outer member,

a pair of mutually spaced plates carried by and secured to said tubular member,

an insulating member carried by each plate of said pair of plates,

a'plurality of equally spaced contact blades carried by each insulating member and having an insulating strip disposed therebetween,

a plurality of mutually spaced casings carried by and secured to said rotatable outer member,

a support carried by each casing of said plurality of casings,

a plurality of brush fingers carried by said support of each casing and cooperating with the contact blades of each insulating member as the outer member rotates about the inner member,

a guide rail carried by each plate and having a groove formed therein,

a guide block carried by each support engageable in the groove in each guide rail for invariably aligning the brush fingers with the contact blades upon movement of the casings past each plate of said pair of plates,

pin means carried by the support of each casing, and

complementary means carried by each of said casings and cooperating with the pin means of each support for allowing vertical movement thereof and the brush fingers thereon to insure proper electrical contact between the brush fingers and the contact blades as the casings move past each plate of said pair of plates.

8. The combination of structure according to claim 7 wherein said complementary means includes a plurality of oppositely disposed brackets secured to each casing and provided with slots for receiving the terminal end of the pin means.

9. A multi-conductor slip ring construction suitable for use with a missile magazine having a fixed tubular member and a rotatable missile container and comprising a pair of supports, each support of said pair of supports having an elongated opening formed therein,

a vertical movable brush assembly mounted on each support and within the opening therein,

a plurality of brush fingers carried by said brush assembly,

a contact assembly fixed to the other support of said pair of supports,

a plurality of contact blades carried by and cooperating with said brush fingers,

a plurality of pins carried by the brush assembly and loosely fitted into each support for mounting the brush assembly and brush fingers for vertical movement to insure proper electrical contact of the brush fingers with the contact blades upon rotation of said one support with respect to said other support,

guide means on said brush assembly, and

complementary guide means on said contact assembly and cooperating with the guide means on the brush assembly for aligning the brush fingers with the contact blades upon rotation of the brush assembly with respect to the contact assembly.

10. A multi-conductor slip ring construction comprising a contact assembly and a brush assembly,

said contact assembly including a fixed support,

a block composed of insulating material secured to said support,

a plurality of contact blades carried by said block,

an insulating divider disposed between pairs of contact blades of said plurality of contact blades,

said brush assembly including a casing having an elongated opening formed therein,

7 guide means on the block, and complementary guide means on the member 7 an elongated member 'Of insulating material mounted within'the casing and disposed within said opening,

a plurality'of pins carried by said member and loosely fitted into the casing for allowing vertical movement of the member 7 and brush fingers thereon as the brush fingers engage the contact blades,

engageable with the guide means on the block for aligning the brush fingers and the contact blades upon rotation of the brush assembly with respect to the contact assembly.

11. A- multi-conductor slip ring construction compris 'ing a contact assembly and a complementary brush assemsaid contact assembly including a contact support,

a block composed of insulatingmaterial secured to said block and having the outer edge curved throughout the length thereof, 1 V

a plurality of contact blades carried by said block,

each blade of said plurality of blades extending beyond the curved edge of saidblock and having the outer edge thereof curved throughout the length thereof,

insulating separators carried by said block and separating the contact blades one from the other, said separators extending beyond the curved edges of the blades and having the outer edges thereof curved throughout the length thereof,

said brush'assembly cooperatingwith the contact assembly and including a casing having an elongated opening formed therein, an elongated brush support composed of insulating material disposed within the casing and mounted within said opening,

a plurality of brush fingers carried by said brush support,

a plurality of pins carried by said brush support and disposed in mutual spaced relationship,

a plurality of aligning pairs of brackets carried by said casing, each pair of brackets of said plurality of pairs of brackets having a slot formed therein for No references cited. 

1. IN A MULTI-CONDUCTOR DEVICE OF THE CLASS DESCRIBED, IN COMBINATION, A FIXED INNER TUBULAR MEMBER, A ROTATABLE OUTER MEMBER; A PAIR OF CONTACT ASSEMBLIES MOUNTED ON SAID FIXED INNER TUBULAR MEMBER AND HAVING A PLURALITY OF CONTACT BLADES CARRIED THEREBY; A PLURALITY OF BRUSH ASSEMBLIES MOUNTED ON SAID ROTATABLE MEMBER AND HAVING A PLURALITY OF BRUSH FINGERS CARRIED THEREBY, THE BRUSH FINGERS ON THE LEAST TWO OF SAID ASSEMBLIES COOPERATING WITH SAID CONTACT BLADES ON SAID PAIR OF CONTACT ASSEMBLIES AS THE OUTER MEMBER ROTATES ABOUT SAID INNER MEMBER; GUIDE MEANS ON THE CONTACT ASSEMBLIES; COMPLEMENTARY GUIDE MEANS ON THE BRUSH ASSEMBLIES ENGAGEABLE WITH THE GUIDE MEANS ON THE CONTACT ASSEMBLIES FOR INVARIABLY ALIGNING THE BRUSH FINGERS WITH CONTACT BLADES AS THE BRUSH ASSEMBLIES ROTATE PAST THE CONTACT ASSEMBLIES; AND 